Braided Aeroquip lines for Sanden A/C

I am brand new to this forum, but I have a question that I'm sure you can answer, and I really want to complete my project.

I have a '63 Nova SS that I have been working on for about 8 years now. It's one of those long term projects, if you know what I mean. Anyway, I've added/changed quite a few things on the car (mostly in the engine compartment), and I have one last thing I want to do with the A/C hoses before the next car show. I've found that Aeroquip has fittings and hoses that will support R134a refrigerent, which is what my Sanden 508 compressor supports. I can buy all the hoses and fittings and make the lines I need, but the problem is that the current outlets from the firewall are for hose and clamps. I would like to do what I did with the heater core, where I cut the ends of the outlets and sweated on some 1/2 pipe fittings. This allowed me to hook-up some AN lines directly the the core. I want to do the same with the A/C outlets, but they are not copper like the heater core. I was thinking about getting some compression fittings, but I'm not sure if that will work. Has anyone tried to do this, and if so, what is the best approach?

Thanks.

Todd
http://www.novasonly.com/2005

Todd,

First of all, the neat Aeroquip A/C fittings are O-Ring style, not AN. We have used the hose and fittings and find that they are easy to assemble, look great, and had no leaks.

Given that, soldering AN or pipe fittings onto your existing lines may not be the way to go. Two ideas pop to mind; can you remove your existing evaporator and take it to an A/C shop who can put the proper O-Ring fitting onto it OR call Vintage Air and tell them what you want to do....they will probably have a solution.

Mike in Tucson

Thanks for the quick reply Mike.

I agree the AN or pipe fitting will not work. I was thinking I might be able to use a compression fitting that had an o-ring style connector on it. It may not exist, but I am fishing for someone who might have found a way to do it. I will give Vintage Air try. They have a shop here in Phoenix.

Thanks again.

Todd

You might want to call them direct in San Antonio, TX

The shops in Phoenix are dealers....I have found that they usually dont stock squat and try to steer you to buy whatever they have.

There probably are other Aeroquip sources.....I bought from Vintage Air without shopping around. On page 68 of their catalog is the Aeroquip stuff. You need -6, -8, and -10 line... the fittings are not AN but the hose is AN sized.

Our first installation has held pressure for 3 years without having to be recharged....a record for home assmbled lines here!

mike in tucson

Here's some pic's of how I did my lines a while back..

http://community.webshots.com/album/58389282zDfQYM


All the fittings under the hood are R134 o-ring, and everything inside the cabin is old R12 fittings. The Sanden fittings were from Vintage Air. Everything worked great. Took a bit to chase all the leaks out, but it has been a good investment.
Jeff:toocool:

Nice job Jeff!

That may be a little more than I had in mind, but it does give me some ideas. Thanks.

Todd